A phase III randomized trial has shown that Cyramza™ (ramucirumab) combined with Taxotere® (docetaxel) extended overall survival 1.4 months in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when compared to standard second-line therapy (Taxotere alone). The combination therapy also increased progression free survival by 1.5 months. The results were reported at the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology conference held in Chicago.

Cyramza is a targeted therapy that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels in tumors and, therefore, slows tumor growth.

As part of the REVEL trial, Dr. Maurice Perol et al tested the combination therapy against the standard Taxotere therapy in 1253 stage IV NSCLC patients who had progressed either during or after previous treatment.

Overall survival for the combination therapy was 10.5 months, while that of the Taxotere arm was 9.1 months. Progression-free survival was 4.5 months versus 3 months, respectively. The combination cohort showed an objective response rate of 23%; response rate for the standard treatment was 14%.

There were a number of grade 3 adverse events associated with the Cyramza treatment, including neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, fatigue, leukopenia, hypertension, and pneumonia. The number of treatment-related adverse events that led to death was comparable.